M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Joab Tells David to Speak to His Servants
19 Then it was told to Joab, “Behold, (A)the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom.” 2 And the salvation that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 So the people stole away to enter into the city that day, as people who are dishonored steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But as for the king, he (B)wrapped his face up. Then the king cried out with a loud voice, “(C)O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed the faces of all your servants, who today have provided escape for your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have informed all of us today that [a]princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, surely then it would be right in your eyes. 7 So now, arise, go out and speak to the heart of your servants, for I swear by Yahweh, if you do not go out, surely (D)not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be of greater evil for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”
David Returns to Jerusalem
8 So the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is (E)sitting in the gate.” Then all the people came before the king.
Now (F)Israel had fled, each to his tent. 9 And it happened that all the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “(G)The king delivered us from the [b]hand of our enemies and (H)provided us escape from the [c]hand of the Philistines, but now (I)he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So now, why are you silent about having the king return?”
11 Now King David had sent to (J)Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to have the king return to his house, while the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 12 You are my brothers; (K)you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to have the king return?’ 13 And say to (L)Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? (M)May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be (N)commander of the army before me continually (O)in place of Joab.’” 14 Thus he inclined the hearts of all the men of Judah (P)as one man, so they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.” 15 The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to (Q)Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to cause the king to pass over across the Jordan.
16 Then (R)Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 Now there were one thousand men of Benjamin with him, with (S)Ziba the young man of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they rushed to the Jordan before the king. 18 Then they kept passing over the ford to cause the king’s household to pass over, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to pass over the Jordan. 19 So he said to the king, “(T)Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, so that the king would [d]take it to heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, (U)the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “(V)Should not Shimei be put to death for this, (W)because he cursed the anointed of Yahweh?” 22 David then said, “(X)What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? (Y)Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?” 23 And the king said to Shimei, “(Z)You shall not die.” Thus the king swore to him.
24 Now (AA)Mephibosheth the [e]son of Saul had come down to meet the king; and (AB)he had not done anything for his feet, nor done anything for his mustache, nor (AC)washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 25 Now it happened when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “(AD)Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 So he answered, “O my lord, the king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ (AE)because your servant is lame. 27 Moreover, (AF)he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is (AG)like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28 For (AH)all my father’s household was nothing but men worthy of death before my lord the king; (AI)yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should [f]complain anymore to the king?” 29 So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have [g]decided, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’” 30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”
31 Now (AJ)Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he passed over the Jordan with the king in order to send him off over the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had [h](AK)sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “You pass over with me and I will [i]sustain you in Jerusalem with me.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, “(AL)How long [j]have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am [k]now (AM)eighty years old. Can I know between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore (AN)the voice of singing men and women? (AO)Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant would merely pass over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward? 37 Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant (AP)Chimham, let him pass over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” 38 So the king answered, “Chimham shall pass over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you [l]require of me, I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people passed over the Jordan and the king passed over too. The king then (AQ)kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.
40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also (AR)half the people of Israel [m]accompanied the king. 41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “(AS)Why had our brothers (AT)the men of Judah stolen you away, and caused the king and his household and all David’s men with him to pass over the Jordan?” 42 Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because (AU)the king is a close relative to [n]us. Why then [o]are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has [p]anything been taken for us?” 43 But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “[q](AV)We have ten parts in the king, therefore [r]we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not [s]our word first to have [t]our king return?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.
A Vision of Paradise
12 (A)It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable, but I will go on to visions and (B)revelations [a]of the Lord. 2 I know a man (C)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, (D)God knows—such a man was (E)caught up to the (F)third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, (G)God knows— 4 was (H)caught up into (I)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 (J)On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in (K)weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be (L)foolish, (M)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will consider me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me.
A Thorn in the Flesh
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the (N)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a (O)thorn in the flesh, a (P)messenger of Satan to [b]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord (Q)three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (R)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather (S)boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore (T)I am well content with weaknesses, with [c]insults, with (U)distresses, with (V)persecutions and (W)hardships, (X)for the sake of Christ, for (Y)when I am weak, then I am strong.
Concern for the Corinthian Church
11 I have become (Z)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for (AA)in no respect was I inferior to the [d]most-eminent apostles, even if (AB)I am nothing. 12 The [e](AC)signs [f]of a true apostle were worked out among you with all perseverance, by [g]signs and wonders and [h]miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as less than the rest of the churches, except that (AD)I myself did not become a burden to you? [i]Forgive me (AE)this wrong!
14 Here (AF)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I (AG)will not be a burden to you; for I (AH)do not seek what is yours, but (AI)you. For (AJ)children ought not to save up for their parents, but (AK)parents for their children. 15 So I will (AL)most gladly spend and be fully spent for your souls. If (AM)I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I (AN)did not burden you myself. Nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I (AO)took you in by deceit. 17 (AP)Have I taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you? 18 I (AQ)encouraged (AR)Titus to go, and I sent (AS)the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not walk [j]in the same (AT)spirit—(AU)in the very same steps?
19 All this time [k]you think we are defending ourselves to you. We speak in Christ (AV)in the sight of God. (AW)And all these things, (AX)beloved, are for your building up. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps (AY)when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be (AZ)strife, jealousy, (BA)outbursts of anger, (BB)selfish ambition, (BC)slanders, (BD)gossip, (BE)arrogance, (BF)disturbances. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have (BG)sinned in the past and not repented of the (BH)impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced.
Prophesy Against Tyre
26 Now it happened in the eleventh year, on the first of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, because (A)Tyre has said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the (B)gateway of the peoples is broken; it has [a](C)opened to me. I shall be filled, now that she is laid waste,’ 3 therefore thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring up (D)many nations against you, as the (E)sea brings up its waves. 4 They will (F)make the walls of Tyre a ruin and pull down her towers; and I will scrape her dust from her and make her a bare rock. 5 She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ declares Lord Yahweh, ‘and she will become (G)plunder for the nations. 6 Also her (H)daughters who are [b]on the mainland will be killed by the sword, and they will know that I am Yahweh.’”
7 For thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will bring upon Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, (I)king of kings, with horses, (J)chariots, horsemen, and an assembly, a great number of people. 8 He will kill your daughters [c]on the mainland with the sword; and he will make (K)siege walls against you, cast up a (L)ramp against you, and raise up a large shield against you. 9 The blow of his battering rams he will direct against your walls, and with his swords he will tear down your towers. 10 Because of the abundance of his (M)horses, the fine dust raised by them will cover you; your walls will (N)shake at the noise of horsemen and [d]wagons and chariots when he (O)enters your gates as men enter a city that is breached. 11 With the hoofs of his (P)horses he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword; and your strong pillars will (Q)come down to the ground. 12 Also they will make a spoil of your wealth and a plunder of your (R)merchandise, and (S)pull down your walls and tear down your (T)desirable houses, and [e]throw your stones and your timbers and your debris (U)into the water. 13 So I will cause the tumult of your (V)songs to cease, and the sound of your (W)harps will be heard no more. 14 I will make you a bare rock; you will be a place for the spreading of nets. You will be (X)built no more, for I (Y)Yahweh have spoken,” declares Lord Yahweh.
15 Thus says Lord Yahweh to Tyre, “Shall not the (Z)coastlands (AA)shake at the sound of your downfall when the wounded groan, when the killing occurs in your midst? 16 Then all the princes of the sea will (AB)go down from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. They will (AC)clothe themselves with [f]trembling; they will sit on the ground, (AD)tremble every moment, and be appalled at you. 17 They will take up a (AE)lamentation over you and say to you,
‘(AF)How you have perished, O inhabited one,
From the seas, O city that was praised,
Which was (AG)strong on the sea,
She and her inhabitants,
Who [g]imposed [h]her terror
On all her inhabitants!
18 Now the (AH)coastlands will tremble
On the day of your downfall;
Yes, the coastlands which are by the sea
Will be dismayed at your (AI)departure.’”
19 For thus says Lord Yahweh, “When I make you a city laid waste, like the cities which are not inhabited, when I (AJ)bring up the deep over you and the great waters cover you, 20 then I will bring you down with those who (AK)go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you inhabit the (AL)lower parts of the earth, like the ancient waste places, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not [i]be inhabited; but I will set (AM)glory in the land of the living. 21 I will [j]bring (AN)terrors on you, and you will be no more; though you will be sought, (AO)you will never be found again,” declares Lord Yahweh.
Yet God Is My King
A [a]Maskil of Asaph.
74 Why, O God? Have You (A)rejected us forever?
Why does Your anger (B)smoke against the (C)sheep of Your [b]pasture?
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have (D)purchased of old,
Which You have (E)redeemed to be the (F)tribe of Your inheritance;
And this Mount (G)Zion, where You have dwelt.
3 Lift up Your steps toward the (H)perpetual ruins;
The enemy (I)has damaged everything within the sanctuary.
4 Your adversaries have (J)roared in the midst of Your meeting place;
They have set up their (K)own signs (L)for signs.
5 Each seems like one who lifts up
[c]An (M)axe against the undergrowth of trees.
6 And now its (N)carved work altogether
They smash with hatchet and [d]hammers.
7 They have (O)set Your sanctuary on fire;
By bringing it to the ground, they have (P)defiled the dwelling place of Your name.
8 They (Q)said in their heart, “Let us [e]completely [f]subdue them.”
They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our (R)signs;
There is (S)no longer any prophet,
Nor is there any among us who knows (T)how long.
10 How long, O God, will the adversary (U)reproach?
Will the enemy (V)spurn Your name forever?
11 Why (W)do You turn back Your hand, even Your right hand?
From within Your bosom, (X)destroy them!
12 Yet God is (Y)my King from of old,
Who works deeds of [g]salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 You (Z)divided the sea by Your strength;
You (AA)broke the heads of the (AB)sea monsters [h]in the waters.
14 You crushed the heads of [i](AC)Leviathan;
You gave him as food for the [j]creatures (AD)of the desert.
15 [k]You (AE)split open spring and river;
[l]You (AF)dried up ever-flowing rivers.
16 Yours is the day, Yours also is the night;
[m]You have (AG)established the [n]light and the sun.
17 [o]You have (AH)caused all the boundaries of the earth to stand firm;
[p]You have formed (AI)summer and winter.
18 Remember this, O Yahweh, that the enemy has (AJ)reproached,
And a (AK)wickedly foolish people has spurned Your name.
19 Do not deliver the soul of Your (AL)turtledove to the wild beast;
(AM)Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.
20 Look to the (AN)covenant;
For the (AO)dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence.
21 Let not the (AP)oppressed return dishonored;
Let the (AQ)afflicted and needy praise Your name.
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